Trustees took on the work as far as possible, with support from our website Forum moderators and other volunteers, and were able to maintain projects successfully to the end of the 2010 year. Although we have seen significantly reduced donations through losing our employed fundraiser, our staff and accountancy costs have reduced from £80,000 in 2009-10 to an expected £3,000 in 2010-11, thus ensuring the survival of HeartLine, while maintaining our services to our members.
Projects 2009-10 Heart Children – HeartLine published a new edition in October 2009. We have had some donations to enable us to provide books to nominated hospitals, but are having to charge our members for copies to cover production costs. The Magazine continued to maintain its excellent standards, and was published three times during the year. Hospital Packs are still very popular with hospitals and out-patient clinics, but fundraising was slow during the year for this project. The two holiday caravans continue to be appreciated by our members. The Trustees reviewed both caravans and assessed their functional and commercial viability towards the end of the year and agreed to support them with remedial plans for the 2010 – 2011 year Sailing day activity was curtailed due to lack of funds and the yacht we used being laid up for repairs. The PGL Adventure Weekends were a great success – they are run as separate heart children and sibling weekends, allowing children to meet and make friends with children in similar or identical situations. We raised funds to supply wet suits to children with heart conditions. These suits keep children warm in the water so that they can get the exercise that they need. Demand outstripped funds raised. The Summer Party was held once again at the London Wetland Centre with the invaluable support of Goldman Sachs, both financial and enthusiastic input from their staff. Gratitude for support Sadly we cannot thank all donors individually in this public space (some have declined to be thanked) but a huge thank you is extended to the companies who made us their charity of the year, the schools who held special days, the many who jumped onto their bikes, and out of planes, sold cakes, organised parties and went without their Christmas presents in order to support HeartLine.
We wouldn’t survive without you. – every pound has been spent on families whose lives are improved by just knowing there are people out there who care about them. And we have to mention: Anya Rowson – for her years as a Trustee of HeartLine, Treasurer and Chair, and her continuing support especially with the Forums
Anya Rowson stood down as Chair of the Board of Trustees after 13 years.
Kevin Ford – for his many years as Trustee, Treasurer and Vice Chair of HeartLine, and his continuing essential support both administrative and practical. Lisa Casey – for her support and years of Trustee input Alison Keen – for her support and long standing as Trustee and Vice Chair Linda Hardy – for her long standing as a Trustee Clare Burgess, Hazel Greig-Midlane, Annette Jackson, Wendy Lynch, Caroline Mutton, Darren Pickard and Helen Woods – for their work as Trustee/volunteer administrators from April 2010 Sarah Sparkes – for her work as Chair of Trustees and for undertaking much administrative work Kate Hatcher, Kerry M-S, Sheran Taylor and Val Thubbron – for their roles as Senior Moderators on the HeartLine forums Sarah Batt, Annabel Blanch, Liz and Keith Collins, Shelly Coombs, Rosie Freeman, Sue Gearing, Kate Hatcher, Margaret Horstead, Annette Jackson, Jan Kingsly, Jan Lyons, Elaine Murray-Bell and Val Thubbron – for their work as members of the Core Support group Children’s Heart Federation – for provision of a desk in their Office, and meeting facilities for the Trustees.
HeartLine Annual Review 2011
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